Soap Blamed for Cybertruck Recall

Buyers have been complaining about delayed Cybertruck deliveries and the reason is now clear: Tesla is recalling almost 4,000 Cybertrucks for an issue that can't be fixed with just a software update. According to a National Highway Transportation Safety Administration recall notice, the company needs to fix a potentially dangerous problem with the accelerator pedal, though no deaths or injuries have been reported, NBC News reports. "On affected vehicles, when high force is applied to the pad on the accelerator pedal, the pad may dislodge, which may cause the pedal to become trapped in the interior trim above the pedal," the notice states.

The notice said the recall affects 3,878 Cybertrucks made between Nov. 13, 2023 and April 4, 2024. Cybertruck deliveries began in late November so the recall probably includes most, if not all, Cybertrucks on the road in the US, CNN reports. According to the recall notice, soap caused the problem. An "unapproved change introduced lubricant (soap) to aid in the component assembly of the pad onto the accelerator pedal," it states. "Residual lubricant reduced the retention of the pad to the pedal."

Before the recall was issued, Cybertruck owners had discussed the issue in owners' forums. One owner said in a TikTok post that a stuck pedal "held the accelerator down 100%, full throttle." The recall notice said Tesla "will replace or rework the accelerator pedal assembly" at no cost to the consumer. It said Tesla "made a determination to voluntarily recall the affected vehicles" on April 12 and owners will receive notification letters in June. (More Cybertruck stories.)